Folk calendar for every day of January

“Prosinets”, “January”, “perezimye”, “turn of winter”, “Vasilev month” - such beautiful, popular names have the winter month of January. Many proverbs and sayings have been invented about him: “The month of January is the king of winter.” “The beginning of the year is the middle of winter.” Probably many will be interested in learning about the signs of January.Using these signs, our glorious ancestors could predict what the harvest and weather would be like many months in advance.

Signs of weather change

• If it’s March in January, then wait for January in March.
• If it is cold in January, then July will be hot.
• And if January is full of snow and blizzards, then expect rain in July.
• A loud echo means severe frosts.
• If you hear thunder, expect a strong wind.
• The draft in the chimney is strong and the firewood is cracking, which means there will be frost.
• The draft in the pipe is weak - there will be a thaw.
• If the forest cracks, then the frost will last for a long time.
• A lot of snow in January means a rainy summer.

What signals do animals give us?

• Jackdaws gather together before good weather.
• Bullfinches chirp before the thaw.
• If a horse lies down on the straw, it means it will soon become warmer.
• The roosters crowed on a frosty night, which means there will be a thaw.
• Geese stand on one leg before frost.
• The sparrows from the chicken coop carried the fluff and feathers to their nests - they sensed the frost.
• The crows cawed loudly, signaling the imminent frost.
• Crows circle in flocks in the sky towards heavy snow
• Cats curl up into a ball - in the cold.
• The cat sleeps all day - for warmth

A harbinger of good harvests

• Big icicles - for a big harvest
• There is a lot of snow on the fields in January, which means there will be a lot of bread in the summer.
• If the prosinets are “gloomy”, then don’t expect bread.
• Many sunny days at the end of January mean a rich harvest.

 

 

January signs for every day of the month

1st of January. New Year. Ilya Muromets Day

On this day it was supposed to remember the defenders of the Fatherland and bow to the waist to the native Russian land.

On New Year's Day, the peasants tried to rest more, so that the whole year would be easy, and so that it would be well-fed and generous, they would set a rich festive table.

Signs for this day:

• What the weather will be like on the first day of the New Year is the same on the first day of summer.
• Severe frost with snow means a good harvest.
• Warmth and no snow means crop failure
• Frost on the trees - for a fruitful year.

January 2. Ignatiev day

Prayers were served on Ignatius, peasants with icons went around the villages in a religious procession to protect their homes from all sorts of troubles. To unite family ties and connect with their home, the whole family got together and always tried to invite more relatives to visit.

Signs on Ignatius:

• What’s the weather like on Ignatius? The same will happen in August.
• The ground is deeply frozen, there is a lot of frost on the trees, which means there will be a harvest.
• On Ignatius Day, you should shake off the snow from the apple trees, then there will be a lot of apples in the summer.
• Clouds are coming to Ignatius - wait for warmer weather.

January 3. Prokopiev day

Procopius of Caesarea is a holy Christian great martyr who fought against paganism. In Rus', this day is also known as Half Feed. By this time, half of the stock of livestock feed had been eaten and the peasants were wondering whether the remaining stock of hay would be enough until spring.

What you noticed on this day:

• The weather on Procopius reflects the weather in September as if in a mirror.
• If the echo is loud, then expect bitter frosts.
• If there is a red dawn on Procopius, it means there will be a blizzard soon.
• The morning dawn quickly faded - towards the cold.

4 January. Nastasya's day

Saint Anastasia is a Christian great martyr who helped people who were thrown into prison for their Christian faith. In Rus' she was also revered as the patroness of women in labor.

Signs for Anastasia:

• Based on the weather in Anastasia, you can judge what the weather will be like in October.
• The clouds stubbornly move against the wind, which means expect snow.
• Long icicles promise a good harvest

 

5 January. Fedulov day.

Saint Fedulus is a Christian great martyr. Under pain of death, he did not renounce his faith and the ball was thrown into the sea.Fedul said to his tormentors: “I choose life, but eternal life.”

Signs for Fedula:

• What November will be like can be predicted by the weather on Fedulov's day.
• Everyone was waiting for the wind: if there is wind on Fedul, there will be a harvest.
• A sunset with a greenish tint promised a good day.
• Cookies should be baked in the shape of domestic animals and wrapped in a towel, then evil spirits and diseases would not be able to reach them.
• A clean and tidy hut promised comfort and order throughout the year.

 

6th January. Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, the whole family gathered at the parents' house, but they started eating only in the evening, after the first star appeared. For the holiday they prepared sochivo - a dish of nuts, wheat and honey. Christmas Eve, one of the richest holidays in folk signs.

What we noticed on Christmas Eve:

• What is the weather like on Christmas Eve, will it be the same in December.
• To have good health, on Christmas Eve you need to take a steam bath in a hot bath.
• If the entire Milky Way is strewn with stars, then a sunny day is expected.
• If the night is starry, then blueberries will certainly grow.
• If there are thawed patches of snow, buckwheat will be good.
• A good sunny day means a good harvest.
• Let all the carolers into the house and generously treat them, then there will be good luck and prosperity in the house.

Jan. 7. Christmas

Christmas is one of the great holidays in Rus'. The holiday is a family holiday and dearly loved by all Christians. The fast before him lasted 6 weeks and now the owners are trying to serve the best they have on the table. Of course, Christmas could not do without beautiful folk customs, festivities and folk signs.

Folk signs for Christmas:

• You only need to celebrate Christmas in new clothes, otherwise you will get yourself into trouble.
• All evil spirits can be swept out of the house this evening with a nettle broom.
• To get rid of the torment of love, one had to heat a stone in the oven and throw it into the hole.
• After the snowstorm on Christmas, we were expecting a good honey harvest.
• Frost on the trees promised a rich harvest of bread.
• A head of garlic under the tablecloth will protect you from disease.
• At Christmas all wrongs are forgiven.
• If there was a thaw, then spring will come early

 

January 8 – Babi porridge

Babi porridge is a women's holiday, a holiday for women in labor and midwives. Mothers congratulated the midwives, thanked them and boasted about their children, whom they helped to come into this world.

Signs of the day:

• On this day we noticed that if the tits sing all day, then expect frost in the evening.
• The crows cawed - there will be a snowstorm.
• The porridge in the oven turns brown - it will snow.
• Frost and snow are falling - summer will be cold.
• The sun has set, and in the north there is a red glow - to severe frosts.

 

January 9. Stepanov day

On this day, a shepherd was chosen in the villages, and wealthy peasants watered their horses from silver dishes to protect them from the evil eye and evil slander. Christmas festivities continue and villagers treat each other to carols and homemade cookies in the shape of animals.

Signs for this day:

• If it snows, then this promises inclement, damp weather.
• If the moon is red at night, the day will be warm and snowy.
• “Stepan came - he was wearing a red jacket.” We must expect frost soon.
• Smoke spreads over the fields - to the warmth.

January 10. Household Day

Household People's Day - also known as the Christmas meat-eater. This date was not a holiday, but all peasant families tried to do everything together at this time, emphasizing that the main wealth is a friendly, strong family.

What we noticed on Myasoed:

• Frost on the stacks - summer will be rainy.
• A snowstorm on Myasoyeda means frequent rains in the summer.
• The snow is falling in large flakes, which means there will be a thaw.
• Getting married to a Meat Eater is a good omen.

 

January 11. Scary day

According to legend, on the Last Day, evil spirits loved to take a walk and intrigue people. To protect themselves from this evil, special rituals were held in the villages designed to disperse all this evil spirits.

Signs of the Last Day:

• A terrible day is warm and spring will be warm
• Clouds go low - to severe cold.
• If the snowstorm clears up, there will be frequent rains in July.
• Thistles hung at the door will prevent evil spirits from entering the house.

 

January 12. Anisin's day

Saint Anisia distributed all her wealth to poor people, and devoted her life to helping the suffering and treating the sick, for which one of the days in the folk calendar is dedicated to her.

On Anisya's day, note:

• “The cold has come to Anisya”, “Don’t ask Anisya for warmth” - it’s always cold on Anisya.
• The sparrows were chirping at Anisya - expect a thaw soon.
• Doing handicrafts on Anisya is a misfortune to click on.
• Boys born on Anisyu will be good hunters and carpenters.
• On Anisya, guests are welcome in every house.

 

13th of January. Vasiliev evening

Vasiliev's evening was also called a generous evening. To celebrate the New Year, they tried to set rich tables; this promised the owners good luck and prosperity for the whole year. Not only close relatives were happy, but also everyone who stopped by.

Signs for this day:

• Everything that is predicted will come true.
• At midnight, shake off the snow from the apple trees, then the apple harvest will be good.
• A lot of frost on the trees means good honey production.
• South wind on Vasily - hot summer.
• West wind - there will be an abundance of fish and milk.
• With an east wind, berries and fruits will grow.
• Don’t count small things today—you’ll cry.

 

January 14. Vasiliev's day. New Year (old)

The first day of the new year, the middle of winter and the middle of Christmastide.They spent it cheerfully, went to visit relatives and friends, and congratulated them on the holiday. Peasant children actively participated in the ritual of “sowing grains”, went from house to house and scattered grain on the floor with chants.

Folk signs about Vasily:

• Snow on Vasily - there will be a good harvest
• A strong wind blows and the nut harvest blows up.
• A thaw on Vasily means a rainy, stormy summer.
• If there is ice on the roads, it means there will be a good harvest of vegetables.
• A wish made on the night of 13 to 14 always comes true.
• If you were born on Vasily, you will definitely be rich.
• If the porridge escapes from the pot - expect trouble.
• If you borrow money on Vasily’s Day, you will be in debt all year.

 

January 15. Sylvester Day, or Chicken Holiday

On the Chicken Holiday, they always cleaned the chicken coops, repaired the roosts, fumigated the chicken houses with elecampane and hung a black pebble with a hole there - the “chicken god”. All these precautions were supposed to protect the laying hens from evil spirits.

What was noticed about Sylvester:

• The day is coming on Sylvester, and the frost is getting stronger.
• If the month has sharp horns, there will be wind.
• A month with steep horns means cold weather.
• On Sylvester you can find out which months will be rainy. To do this, 12 onions were sprinkled with salt, laid out in a row on the stove, and in the morning they counted which ones were wet and which would be rainy months.

 

January 16. Gordeev day

According to folk legends, on Gordeev Day, hungry witches begin to mercilessly milk peasant cows. To protect the animals, tallow candles were hung over the gates of the barns and the brownie was asked to keep order.

Signs for January 16:

• Whatever the weather is like in Gordeya, that’s how March will be.
• If it snowed all day, then at night there will be severe frost.
• At sunset, circles around the sun are visible - a sign of cold weather and snow.
• They don’t work for Gordey in the evening, otherwise there will be trouble.
• On Gordeev's day you cannot be proud or boast.

 

January 17. Zosima the beekeeper

Zosima is considered the patron of beekeepers and has always been held in high esteem not only by beekeepers, but also by all honey lovers. On this day there should always be honeycomb honey and honey dishes on the table.

What to note on January 17:

• On Zosima, the moon is full and the sky is clear - the rivers will overflow heavily.
• Clouds go low - it’s cold.
• To drive evil spirits out of the house, you need to walk around it with prayer and an icon in your hands.
• Zosima was strictly forbidden to sew, otherwise the child could be born blind.

January 18. Epiphany Christmas Eve, Hungry Evening

Epiphany Christmas Eve falls on Lent and therefore there is not a lot of pickles on the table, which is why it is nicknamed the hungry evening. Of course, no one remained hungry; the housewives prepared a lot of delicious, lean snacks.

Signs for Epiphany Christmas Eve:

• At night, the full moon foretells a large flood.
• There is a lot of snow on the trees, which means there will be honey in the summer.
• On Epiphany Eve, they collected snow and threw it into wells so that the water in them would not spoil.
• Bathing in the bathhouse ensured good health.
• If there is a snowstorm on Epiphany Christmas Eve, then there will be a snowstorm on Maslenitsa.
• If dogs bark loudly, it means there will be a lot of game in the forests.
• At midnight, everyone went to the river with buckets for water.

 

January 19. Epiphany

Epiphany is one of the most important Christian holidays. At Epiphany the heavens open and if you pray to the Lord, everything will certainly come true. Water acquires miraculous powers; if you swim in an ice hole at Epiphany, you will be cleansed of sins and illnesses for the whole year.

Epiphany signs:

• To be baptized at Epiphany means a long and happy life.
• Wooing for Epiphany means a happy family life.
• If there is a lot of water in the Epiphany ice hole, then the spill will be large.
• A strong wind is blowing - bees will swarm well in the summer.
• On Epiphany the day is cold and clear - for a dry summer.
• On Epiphany the weather is cloudy - good bread will be harvested.
• If you see blue clouds at noon, it will be a fruitful year.

 

January 20th. Ivan Hawkmoth

According to folk legends, on this day they “drank down” evil and thereby saved themselves from grief - sadness. Before the feast, it was recommended to drink holy water first, and during the meal they tried not to get carried away.

Signs for January 20:

• A rainy, snowy day promises a rich harvest.
• A clear day on Ivan - the hawk moth - for a dry year.

 

January 21. Emelin day, Emelyan winter

“Shallow, Emelya, your week!” on this day you could tell all sorts of fables, invent all sorts of stories, and all this without damaging your reputation. It was customary to invite godfathers and godfathers to visit and treat them.

Signs for Emelya:

• Wind from the south - summer with thunderstorms.
• North wind - frost will intensify.
• It’s cold on Emelya, which means the cold will last a long time.
• Whatever the weather is like in Emelya, it will be like that in August.
• It's snowing - August will be rainy.
• If the day is clear, then the summer will be dry.

 

January 22. Philip's day

The holidays were over, and the peasants began their usual business. In the evening, it was customary to heat the bathhouse and “Wash off the Christmastide.”

Signs for Philip:

• “For Philip, the day was added by one hour, the leap of a sparrow.”
• Clear weather on Philip means a good harvest.
• The sunset is purple - there will be a snowstorm the next day.

 

January 23. Gregory the summer guide

Based on the weather on this day, you can determine what summer will be like. Farmers were most interested in whether it would be rainy or dry.

What was noticed about Gregory:

• If dry snow falls on Gregory, then the summer will be dry.
• If the snow is wet, it means it will rain all summer.
• If the day is clear - early spring.
• Trees and haystacks covered in frost - the weather will be good all week.
• It was considered a bad omen to take out ashes and any trash from the house on this day.

 

January 24. Fedoseev day

According to popular belief, if it is warm on Fedoseya, then we must wait for early spring.

Signs for Fedoseev Day:

• If there is frost on Fedoseya, then the cold will last a long time.
• Rare clouds float across the sky - to frost.
• The echo in the forest can be heard far away - this means severe frosts.
• “Fedoseevo is warm - like early spring.”
• The people also noticed that if they roll a wheel on Fedoseya through the entire village, the warmth will come faster.

 

The 25th of January. Tatyana's Day

The eldest woman in the family baked a round, rosy loaf on this day and divided it equally among all household members. According to popular belief, girls born to Tatiana will be good housewives and happy in family life.

Signs for Tatiana:

• Snow on Tatyana - for a rainy summer.
• Warm weather with a blizzard means a dry, lean year.
• If the sun shines on Tatiana all day, it means the birds will arrive early.
• Clear, starry sky - for early spring.
• People have noticed that January 25th is often the coldest day of the winter.

 

January 26th. Yermilov day

There were often severe frosts on Yerema and the peasants mostly stayed at home. Many signs for this day are associated with cats.

Signs for January 26:

• The cat curls up in a ball and hides its nose - to the cold.
• A cat rolling around on the floor means warmth.
• They noticed where cats like to lie most, which means this is a “good” place, and if they happened to get sick, then people tried to sit on cat beds longer.
• The tits are singing on Yerema - spring will be early.
• The forest is rustling, which means it’s warming up.

 

January 27. Nina's Day

This day was a real holiday for peasant animals. The barns were thoroughly cleaned and the bedding was changed. They spoke kindly to the cows and tried to treat them with something tasty. “On St. Nina, please the cattle.”

Folk signs for Nina:

• White clouds are floating across the blue sky - expect frost.
• If there is a pale moon in the sky, it will soon snow.
• The milk milked on Nina has wonderful properties.

 

28 January. Pavlov's day

According to popular beliefs, sorcerers and witches became more active at this time. People tried to be especially careful, prayed a lot and remembered all the signs and means that protect against evil spirits.

Signs for January 28:

• Starry night on Paul - to a good flax harvest.
• Strong wind - a stormy, rainy year.
• If the frosty patterns on the glass look down, the year will be fruitful.
• All birthday people had to wear linen shirts, then they would have a happy whole year.

 

January 29. Peter-half-feed

It's time to check your stock of livestock feed. If less than half remained, then the daily quota had to be cut.

Signs on Peter - half-feed:

• A cold day means summer will be hot.
• If it snowed on Peter, then in the summer there will be a lot of hay.
• The wind blew from the north - leading to prolonged cold.

 

January 30. Anton-perezimnik, Antonina-half

“Antonina has arrived - it’s halfway through winter.” Half of winter is over, which means spring is just around the corner.

Signs for January 30:

• It's snowing on Anton, which means spring will be late.
• By lunchtime the sun appeared - early spring.
• At night the sky is clear - to a bad harvest.

 

January 31st. Afanasyev Day, Afanasy the Clematis

According to folk legends, witches loved to take a walk on Athanasius. But what bothered people more was the severe frosts that almost always came at this time.

Folk signs on Athanasius:

• A sunny day on Afanasy promised early spring.
• But if there is a snowstorm, then spring will be late.
• Having boys baptized under Athanasius is a bad omen.
• Celebrating a housewarming is also a bad omen.
• Not a good day for dating.